Contraindication | Reason to avoid lung function testing* | Recommendation |
Thoracic/abdominal surgery | Rupture site of injury, avoid pain, discomfort | Relative |
Brain, eye, ear, ENT surgery | Rupture site of injury, avoid pain, discomfort | Relative |
Pneumothorax | Worsen pneumothorax, avoid discomfort and pain | Relative |
Myocardial infarction | Induce further infarction leading to cardiac arrest | Absolute/relative |
Ascending aortic aneurysm | Rupture of aneurysm, catastrophic/fatal event | Absolute/relative |
Haemoptysis | Pulmonary emboli or myocardial infarction | Relative |
Pulmonary embolism | Death, hypoxia leading to respiratory failure | Absolute/relative |
Acute diarrhoea | Discomfort, embarrassment, infection risk | Relative |
Angina | May lead to cardiac arrest in severe cases. discomfort | Absolute/relative |
Severe hypertension (systolic >200 mm Hg, diastolic >120 mm Hg) | Risk of blackout/collapse, rupture of cerebral blood vessels, etc. | Measure blood pressure before tests if suspected |
Confused/demented patients | Lung function tests are volitional and need patient cooperation | Balance need for test against difficult in obtaining results |
Patient discomfort | Vomiting, diarrhoea, cold sores, common cold | Wait until main symptoms abate |
Infection control issue | Contagious infections (norovirus, tuberculosis, flu) | Wait until main symptoms abate |
↵* Sometimes the risk may be necessary as a preoperative assessment for life-saving surgery.
Recommendation: absolute, lung function testing should be avoided in most cases; relative, judge each case on its merits.